The “global sex industry”, with massive business hubs in Thailand, Philippines, Mexico and Brazil, is poised to extend its tentacles to India taking advantage of gradually relaxing sexual ethos, Purshothaman Mulloli, general convenor Joint Action Committee Kannur said in New Delhi today.
He was speaking in a seminar on “The Delhi High Court Judgment: Section 377, IPC and its consequences” called by the Institute of Objective Studies at Indian Islamic Cultural Centre, New Delhi.
Mr Mulloli, whose committee has been fighting legal battles against legalisation of homosexuality, said the Delhi High Court judgment decriminalising homosexual acts between consenting adults in the privacy of homes, would create a conducive environment for the global sex industry to step in.
He said it was not true that because section 377 (prohibiting unnatural sex with men, women or animals) was a 19th century law that had to be “read down”. The fact was that it was reviewed twice after 1947. He said that the Delhi HC, going beyond its area of operation, has asked Parliament in the judgment to enact appropriate laws protecting gay rights.
The Delhi HC in a controversial judgment on July 2, 2009 had read down the Section 377 to decriminalize same-sex behavior among consenting adults. Section 377 continues to apply in the case of sex involving minors and coercive sex. It is to note here that out of two commissions set up by the Parliament that had examined the relevance of Section 377, one had supported it while the other wanted gay rights. It has gone to the cabinet for consideration.
Earlier, in his inaugural address Dr Mohammad Manzoor Alam, chairman of the Institute of Objective Studies, said that it was a struggle between the values of small westernized elite and the common people of India. The outcome of the struggle would show “whether we would live by God-given laws, or guided by our basic instincts”. He cautioned the government not to force a law on people that would destroy “India’s moral fibre”.
Dr. DBS Sehra, president of Delhi unit of Buddhist Society of India, said that homosexuality was an aberration that was against the ethos of the country. It should never be given legal sanction. He said that consent between two adults to indulge in something undesirable should not become the criterion for its being right.
Journalist and former MP Santosh Bhartiya cautioned that the international sex industry was eyeing India for expanding its business here. It was possible under lax laws only. He urged the nation against opening the gates to such interests.
The following resolutions were passed at the end of seminar:
1. oppose the judgment and its far-reaching implications for the physical health, emotional security, public morality and spiritual wellbeing of the people of India and its future generations;
2. support legal challenge to the ruling in the Supreme Court of India for the protection of our values;
3. mobilise and educate our society to resist such moral decline; and
4.request the Union government to bring legislation that prevents further erosion of our moral values.
Showing posts with label Gay rights. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Gay rights. Show all posts
Tuesday, August 4, 2009
Wednesday, June 17, 2009
Obama set to rise to gay’s expectations
Same-sex partners in America are going to get a good time ahead as President Barack Obama is all set to extend some federal benefits to the gay partners of US government workers.
The President is due to sign a presidential order in the Oval office on the issue later on Wednesday. It is being expected that the gay partners of federal employees will get the health and pension benefits currently enjoyed by the heterosexual partners of government workers, but they might be devoid of getting full health insurance coverage.
The move comes in the wake of anger expressed by some gay supporters of Obama that he has not done enough after assuming the office to protect their rights. Gay and lesbian rights group were continuously voicing their disappointment over the Obama’s failure to live up to campaign promise in the first month of his presidency.
With this the US military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy may come to an end as the President is reportedly seeking to repeal this policy as part of a lasting and durable solution. A White House spokesman said the President agreed that the policy was not working for national interests. So he is working with the Secretary of Defence and the joint chiefs to capsizing the policy.
As per the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the gay servicemen and women are allowed to serve, but on the pre-condition of not disclosing their sexuality or engaging in homosexual acts.
Several gay supporters had withdrawn from a fundraising event in protest of Obama’s not fulfilling his promise to repeal the ban on gay military members and extending benefits to partners of government employees. He was also criticized for not turning down a Justice Department legal opinion opposing gay marriage.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) had backed the Defense of Marriage Act last week, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples.
During the presidential election campaign, Obama though opposed to gay marriage but supported civil union, which means to ensure the gay couples the same legal and financial benefits as per married heterosexual couples. He expressed opinion on marriage as a sacred union between a man and woman, but at the same time advocated for the gay and lesbian rights.
The President is due to sign a presidential order in the Oval office on the issue later on Wednesday. It is being expected that the gay partners of federal employees will get the health and pension benefits currently enjoyed by the heterosexual partners of government workers, but they might be devoid of getting full health insurance coverage.
The move comes in the wake of anger expressed by some gay supporters of Obama that he has not done enough after assuming the office to protect their rights. Gay and lesbian rights group were continuously voicing their disappointment over the Obama’s failure to live up to campaign promise in the first month of his presidency.
With this the US military’s “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy may come to an end as the President is reportedly seeking to repeal this policy as part of a lasting and durable solution. A White House spokesman said the President agreed that the policy was not working for national interests. So he is working with the Secretary of Defence and the joint chiefs to capsizing the policy.
As per the “Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell” policy, the gay servicemen and women are allowed to serve, but on the pre-condition of not disclosing their sexuality or engaging in homosexual acts.
Several gay supporters had withdrawn from a fundraising event in protest of Obama’s not fulfilling his promise to repeal the ban on gay military members and extending benefits to partners of government employees. He was also criticized for not turning down a Justice Department legal opinion opposing gay marriage.
The Department of Justice (DoJ) had backed the Defense of Marriage Act last week, which defines marriage as being between a man and a woman and denies federal benefits to same-sex married couples.
During the presidential election campaign, Obama though opposed to gay marriage but supported civil union, which means to ensure the gay couples the same legal and financial benefits as per married heterosexual couples. He expressed opinion on marriage as a sacred union between a man and woman, but at the same time advocated for the gay and lesbian rights.
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